Physical description: The plant is native to Japan and China. The stems are terete, smooth and glabrous. Leaves: simple, alternate, crowded at the apex of the stems and without stipules. The petiole is 6 mm-1.5 cm long and channeled above. The blade is spathulate, coriaceous, 6 cmx2.8 cm-12 cm x 4 cm, glossy, and dark green. The margin of the blade is wavy and recurved, and the midrib is deeply sunken above and raised below. The blade shows 7-9 pairs of secondary nerves. The inflorescences are 2.5 cm long axillary racemes of whitish flowers. The corolla is tubular and 5-lobed. The andrecium consists of 5 stamens alternating with the lobes. The fruits are capsular, 3-lobed, green, 1.5cm x 1 .3 cm, and dehiscent. The seeds are numerous and embedded in a viscous and bright red pulp (Fig. 147).